Former MP Constantin Țuțu remains in custody for another 30 days
Former MP Constantin Țuțu will remain in pre-trial detention for an additional 30 days. The Centru Court of Appeal accepted the appeal from the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS) on Friday, October 31. This decision follows the Chișinău Court's earlier rejection of the request to extend Țuțu's pre-trial detention and its ruling to place him under house arrest.
Prosecutors from the PCCOCS have charged former deputy Constantin Țuțu with two crimes allegedly committed between September and October 2025. He faces accusations of illegally crossing the border into Ukraine and of active corruption, as he reportedly promised over 14,000 lei (approximately 1,000 euros) to a border official to facilitate his crossing at the Vulcănești - Vinogradovca post.
According to the PCCOCS, Țuțu was detained by law enforcement officials at the border crossing where the promised amount was found in his possession.
On October 2, Țuțu attempted to enter the Republic of Moldova from Ukraine and was apprehended. He had previously been caught in the Transnistrian region of Tiraspol on September 22, leading to the ongoing investigation into his illegal border crossing.
When escorted to court, a reporter from Moldova 1 TV asked Țuțu how he managed to cross the border after arriving on the left bank of the Nistru and who assisted him. In response, he claimed he had “entered the country legally, like any person does.”
It is important to note that Țuțu is also under investigation for influence peddling and illicit enrichment, with cases dating back to May 2020 and November 2021, respectively. These cases have since been merged, and the matter is currently being reviewed by the Chișinău Court.
In a related context, Constantin Țuțu and oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, who fled Moldova in June 2019 after losing power, were detained on July 22 at Athens airport while attempting to fly to Dubai. Plahotniuc was extradited on September 25.
